Microphone mounting device and open-face helmet

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention is to prevent a microphone from misalignment or drop caused by wind and shake during driving, and careless touch on the MIC with a hand a shoulder. There is the mounting device mounting a microphone around the mouth of a wearer of an open-face helmet, the mounting device having deformation function for the wearer and formed with foamed synthetic resin materials generating repulsive resilience against deforming stress to cover from around the mouth to the left side part of a helmet shell configuring the outmost layer of the open-face helmet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a microphone mounting device equippedfor an open-face helmet and the open-face helmet, worn by drivers ofvarious types of vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles, vesselssuch as motor boats, as well as other transportation means such asbicycles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known in the art a microphone equipped for an open-face helmet(Hereinafter, “MIC”), as described below in the Patent Literature 1,comprising clips clamped to the helmet shell of the open-face helmet, aflexible tube attached to the clips, a MIC body attached to the flexibletube and lines inserted into the flexible tube and wired over the MICbody and connection terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As related art literature information relevant to the present invention,we note Japanese laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-27069 [Patentliterature 1].

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the prior art in the Patent literature 1, a helmet mayequip with a MIC by clips clamped to the helmet, and further may sitethe MIC body at a preferred position by deforming a flexible tube.

However, in the prior art of the Patent literature 1, the body may bemoved out of the arranged position by displaced clips or flexible tubeby wind or shake during driving or careless touch on the MIC with a handor a shoulder, or MIC may not properly take voice input because theclips slip off and the MIC drops from the helmet.

The present invention addresses to such the issues and they are some ofthe objects to be solved. Specifically, the present invention objects topreventing a MIC from misalignment or drop caused by wind or shakeduring driving or by careless touch on the MIC with a hand or ashoulder, thereby, properly taking voice input from MIC, and so forth.

To achieve such the objects, a mounting device of a microphone and anopen-face helmet at least comprise the following in the presentinvention.

There is a mounting device to equip with a microphone around the mouthof a wearer of an open-face helmet, the mounting device havingdeformation function for the wearer and formed with foamed syntheticresin materials generating repulsive resilience against deforming stressto cover from around the mouth to one or both of the left and rightsides of a helmet shell configuring the outmost layer of the open-facehelmet.

Preferably, the mounting device provides a mounting part to mount themicrophone around the mouth, a supporting part supported at one or bothsides of the left and right sides of the helmet shell and an arm part toconnect the mounting part with the supporting part, wherein the mountingpart, the supporting part and the arm part are integrally formed.

There is a mounting device of a microphone which provides a mountingpart to mount a microphone around the mouth of a wearer of an open-facehelmet, a supporting part supported at one or both sides of the left andright sides of a helmet shell configuring the outmost layer of thehelmet and an arm part arranged between the mounting part and thesupporting part, The mounting part, the supporting part, and the armpart are formed with materials generating repulsive resilience againstdeforming stress, and covered with foamed synthetic resin materialshaving deformation function for the wearer and suppleness so as tointegrate the mounting part, supporting part and the arm part.

Preferably, the supporting part is supported by a base plate, the baseplate having long holes longitudinally extending back and forth respectto the helmet shell, and supported to be slidable back and forth byguide axes passing through the long holes and supported about an axis atthe helmet shell.

Preferably, the supporting part provides an axis supporting partsupported about an axis to be rotatable about an axis extending in theright and left direction of the helmet shell.

There is an open-helmet which provides a mounting device of themicrophone.

Such the features may result in the following effects in the presentinvention. Specifically, the mounting device, formed with foamedsynthetic resin materials generating repulsive resilience againstdeforming stress to cover from around the mouth of a wearer to one orboth of the left and right sides of the helmet shell configuring theoutmost layer of the helmet, may prevent the MIC from misalignment ordrop caused by wind or shake during driving or by careless touch on theMIC with a hand or a shoulder, and thereby properly take voice inputfrom the MIC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an open-face helmet which provides a mountingdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (III)-(III) of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (IV)-(IV) of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting device according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an open-face helmet which provides a mountingdevice according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An open-face helmet set forth below is one type of helmets to cover awearer's head and cheeks but expose the wearer's face, and thereforehalf type helmets which covers only the head are not included.

A helmet shell set forth below configures the outmost layer of theopen-face helmet, for example, molded to an open-face helmet shape fromreinforced fiber resin materials (GFRP, CFRP and so forth) which is madeby impregnating a reinforced fiber materials (glass fiber, carbon fiberand so forth) with a thermoset resin material (an epoxy resin material,a phenol resin material and so forth), or a thermoplastic resin material(polycarbonate and so forth).

The right and left set forth below means direction facing the wearer'scheeks, and back and forth means direction facing the wearer's back ofhead and face.

Foamed synthetic resin materials having deformation function for thewearer and generating repulsive resilience against deforming stress, andfoamed synthetic resin materials having deformation function for thewearer and suppleness, which are set forth below, are exemplified withmaterials to foamed synthetic resin materials such as polyurethane,polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, phenol resin, polyvinylchloride, urea resin, silicone, polyimide and melamine resin.

Deforming stress set forth below is force causing bending deformation tothe mounting device such as whip, warp and twist. Repulsive resilienceagainst the deforming stress is force restoring the shape of themounting device in original from the bending deformation such as thewhip, warp and twist.

The following is description of an open-face helmet (hereinafter,“helmet”) A which provides a mounting device 1 of the first embodimentin the present invention referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4. It shouldbe noted that each embodiment set forth below does not limit the scopeof the present invention.

The helmet A provides an impact absorbing liner (not shown) molded witha foamed polystyrene material or a material having equivalentdeformation function to the foamed polystyrene materials on the innersurface of the head B1 of a helmet shell B molded to the shape of anopen-face helmet with a reinforced fiber material, a head pad (notshown) formed with such as an urethane material disposed inside theimpact absorbing liner, cheek pads CL, CR (refer to FIG. 2) equipped tobe removable on the inner surface of the right and left side parts BL,BR corresponding to the cheeks of the helmet shell B respectively, and amounting device 1 supported about an axis at the left part BL.

In the mounting device 1, a mounting part 2 mounting the MIC body M1 ofa microphone (herein after “MIC”) M around the mouth D1 of the wearer Dof the helmet A, a supporting part 3 supported about an axis by the leftside part BL of the helmet shell B and an arm part 4 connecting themounting part 2 with the supporting part 3 are integrally formed with afoamed synthetic resin material having deformation function for thewearer D and generating repulsive resilience against deforming stress toact on the mounting device 1 as well.

The mounting device 1, which supports a supporting part 3 about an axisat a base plate 5 supported to be slidable back and forth respect to theleft side part BL of helmet shell B, is equipped to the helmet A byattaching the base plate 5 at the left side part BL of the helmet shellB. The mounting device 1 is formed in a shape to wrap around thesupporting part 3 to the mounting part 2 via the arm part 4 so as tosite MIC body M1 around the mouth D1 of the wearer D in state of themounting device 1 equipped to the helmet A.

In the mounting part 2, a mounting hole 20 embedding and mounting theMIC body M1 of MIC M at the side of the wearer D and a mounting groove21 embedding and mounting a line M2 connected to the MIC body M1 areformed.

The mounting hole 20 is formed in a shape embedding and fitting to theMIC body M1 not to be misaligned. The mounting groove 21 isconsecutively formed adjacent to the mounting hole 20 in a shapeembedding and fitting to the line M2 not to be misaligned. The mountinggroove 21 is formed from the mounting part 2 to the bottom 30 of thesupporting part 3 via the arm part 4 to take the embedded line M2 out ofthe mounting device 1 through the back end 30.

MIC M comprises the line M2, the MIC body M1 connected to the one end ofthe line M2 and a terminal M3 connected to the other end of the line M2,so that the terminal M3 is connected to a communication device.

Since an axis supporting part 6 is formed passing through in the depthdirection in the supporting part 3, the mounting device 1 is supportedabout an axis to be rotatable about the supporting axis 7 respect to thebase plate 5 by a supporting axis 7 passed through the axis supportingpart 6 and attached at the base plate 5 piled on the supporting part 3in the depth direction.

The arm part 4 extends from the mounting part 2 located around the mouthD1 of the wearer D to be formed in a bowed shape from the supportingpart 3 supported at the left side part BL via the base plate 5 to themounting part 2 located around the mouth D1 of the wearer D.

The base plate 5 is a plate-like body forming two, up and down, longholes 50, 51 opened in the depth direction and an axis supporting hole52 opened about the same axis as of the axis supporting part 6, andsteps 54, 55 are formed at the top and bottom edges of the base plate 5to prevent the arm part 4 from rotating.

The steps 54, 55 are arranged in anterior area of the base plate 5 suchthat their back edges are located anterior to the supporting axis 7, andthey prevent the arm part 4 from rotating during driving by maintainingthe arm part 4 in state that the mounting part 2 is located around themouth D1 of the wearer D (refer to the FIG. 1) so as to sandwich the armpart 4 at its top and bottom as shown in the FIG. 4.

The axis of the supporting axis 7 is oriented in the right and leftdirection of the helmet shell B by piling such the base plate 5 on theleft side part BL in the depth direction and arranging the long holes50, 51 to longitudinally extend back and forth. Thus, the mounting part2 may move between around the mouth D1 of the wearer D and the head B1of the helmet shell B by the supporting part 3 rotating about thesupporting axis 7 oriented in such axial direction.

The supporting part 3 supporting about an axis respect to the base plate5 may prevent from rotating or shaking caused by wind or shake duringdriving, and moreover rotational resistance may be generated as much asthe supporting part 3 rotates at ease.

The mounting part 2 may move toward the head B1 of the helmet shell B byrotating the supporting part 3 during bending and deforming the arm part4 by hand such that the mounting part 2 moves outside the helmet shell B(in the direction apart from the helmet shell) while the supporting part3 passes over the step 54 of the base plate 5 and further the mountingpart 2 passes over the front edge B2 of the helmet shell B.

Also, repulsive resilience acts on the bent and deformed arm part 4 toreturn to the original shape when the hand releases it at the point thatthe mounting part 2 reaches at the head B1 of the helmet shell B, andthe mounting part 2 is pressed against the helmet shell B by therepulsive resilience force. Thereby, it may prevent the mounting device1 with the mounting part 2 located at the head B1 of the helmet shell Bfrom rotating and shaking caused by wind and shake during driving.

The base plate 5 is supported about an axis by the left side part BL toscrew a screw-like guide axes 53 to the left side part BL passing thoughthe long holes 50, 51, and is slidable back and forth by loosening theguide axes 53. The mounting part 2 may move from around the mouth D1 ofthe wearer D toward apart from around the mouth D1 by sliding. Further,the base plate 5 may be taken out of the left side part BL for eachmounting device 1 by taking the guide axes 53 out of the left side partBL.

The helmet A which provides such the mounting device 1 may prevent theMIC M from misalignment and drop caused by wind and shake during drivingbecause the base plate 5 supported about an axis at the left side partBL supports the mounting device 1 mounting the MIC M about an axis.

Moreover, since the mounting device 1 is formed with a foamed syntheticresin material generating repulsive resilience against deforming stressacting to the mounting device 1, even if force acts to move the mountingpart 2 apart from the mouth by wind or shake during driving or bycareless touch on the mounting device 1 with a hand or a shoulder, theforce may be released by bending and deforming the mounting device 1.Thus, the mounting device 1 may be prevented from such as breakage,misalignment and drop, and even if the mounting part 2 moves away fromthe mouth for a moment to bend and deform the mounting device 1, therepulsive resilience generated by bending and deforming moves themounting part 1 back to the original place.

Therefore, the mounting device 1 may be prevented from such as breakage,misalignment and drop by bending and deforming resulted from carelesstouch on the mounting device 1 with a hand or a shoulder, and therepulsive resilience by bending and deforming may move the mounting part2 back to around the mouth D1 so as to properly take voice input duringdriving.

Further, since the base plate 5 supporting the mounting device 1 aboutan axis is supported about an axis to be slidable back and forth respectto the left side part BL, the position of the MIC body is adjustablearound the mouth D1 of the wearer D within the area defined by where theguide axes 53 is supported about an axis and by the length and width ofthe long holes 50, 51.

Further, since the mounting device 1 is supported about an axis to berotatable respect to the base plate 5, it allows the mounting device 1to move to the point where the mounting device 1 does not interrupt,e.g. the point where the mounting part 2 faces to the helmet shell B, byrotating the mounting device 1 when the helmet A is put on or taken off.

Further, when moving the MIC body M1 back to around the mouth D1 of thewearer D, by moving the mounting device 1 back to the point between thesteps 54, 55 on the base plate 5 to rotate the mounting device 1 at thesame time to move it toward the outside of the helmet shell B (apartfrom the helmet shell), it allows the mounting device 1 to maintain itsposition adjusted around the mouth D1 of the wearer all the time.

Further, since the mounting device 1 is formed with a foamed syntheticresin material having deformation function for the wearer D, even if themounting device 1 contacts with the wearer D to heavily bend and deform,the contact does not affect the wearer because of the deformationfunction. Moreover, since the foamed synthetic resin material isrelatively light-weight and inexpensive for its property, it allows themounting device 1 to reduce its weight and cost for materials. And more,since the mounting device 1 is lightweight, it allows the helmet A tosuppress increase in weight, and therefore, the wearer D may comfortablywear the helmet A.

FIG. 4 is a configuring diagram of a mounting device 1′ in the secondembodiment. Descriptions of regions overlapping to the mounting device 1are omitted by designating the same signs.

The mounting device 1′ is formed in a shape same as of theaforementioned mounting device 1, and a coating material 11 coats themounting device 1′ with foamed synthetic resin materials havingdeformation function for the wearer D and suppleness around a plate-likecore material 10 formed with a rigid synthetic resin material generatingthe repulsive resilience against deforming stress over the supportingpart 3 to the mounting part 2 via the arm part 4.

Such the mounting device 1′ may be attached to the helmet A via the baseplate 5 similar to the mounting device 1, and the same effects areexpected as in the mounting device 1 by attaching to the helmet A.

Further, the mounting device 1′ maintains its shape by rigidity of thecore material 10 made of rigid synthetic resin materials, so thatthickness of the mounting device 1′ may be thinner than thickness of theaforementioned mounting device 1 as illustrated in a drawing.

Also, rigidity of the core material 10 may provide excellent durabilityagainst force by bending and deforming.

FIG. 5 is a configuring diagram of a helmet A which provides themounting device 1″ in the third embodiment. Descriptions of regionsoverlapping to the mounting device 1 are omitted by designating the samesigns.

The mounting device 1″ is formed to be attached over the left to rightside parts BL, BR of the helmet shell B. The supporting part 3Lsupported at the left side part BL via a base plate 5L and an arm part4L connecting the supporting part 3L with the mounting part 2 are formedat the left side of the mounting part 2 arranged in the center when seenfrom the wearer side, and a supporting part 3R supported at the rightside BR via a base plate 5R and an arm part 4R connecting the supportingpart 3R with the mounting part 2 are formed at the right side of themounting part 2.

Also, two mounting grooves 21L, 21R are formed in the mounting device1″, the mounting groove 21L linked to the left of a mounting hole 20 andthe mounting groove 21R linked to the right of the mounting hole 20.Therefore, the line M2 may be taken out of the mounting device 1″through either of the right and left of the helmet shell B.

Such the mounting device 1″ may be attached to the helmet A via baseplates 5L, 5R similar to the mounting device 1, and the same effects maybe expected as in the mounting device 1 by attaching to the helmet A.

A coating material 11 may coat the mounting device 1″ with a foamedsynthetic resin. material around a plate-like core material 10 made of arigid synthetic resin material as the mounting device 1′.

The mounting devices 1, 1′ and 1″ may be fixed immovable to the helmetshell B or be directly attached to the helmet shell B while siting themounting part 2 around the mouth D1 of the wearer D. Also, the mountingdevices 1 and 1′ may be attached at the right side part BR.

ABS resin, hard and soft rubber materials may be exemplified other thanthe foamed synthetic resin materials as materials having deformationfunction for the wearer D and generating repulsive resilience againstdeforming stress. Herein, ebonite rubber may be exemplified as the hardrubber materials, and such as elastomeric rubber, urethane rubber andsilicon rubber may be exemplified as the soft rubber materials.

Also, at least, the arm parts 4, 4L and 4R may be made of foamedsynthetic resin materials in the mounting devices 1 and 1″. Also, thoughthe mounting device 1′ in whole is covered with foamed synthetic resinmaterials, at least, the arm part 4 may be covered with foamed syntheticresin materials.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and thatvarious changes and modifications can be effected therein by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS

-   A: helmet (open-face helmet)-   B: helmet shell-   BL: the left side part-   BR: the right side part-   M: MIC (microphone)-   1: mounting device-   1′: mounting device-   1″: mounting device-   2: mounting part-   3: supporting part-   3L: supporting part-   3R: supporting part-   4: arm part-   4L: arm part-   4R: arm part-   5: base plate-   5L: base plate-   5R: base plate-   6: axis supporting part-   7: supporting axis-   10: core material-   11: cover material-   50: long hole-   51: long hole-   52: guide axis

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting device of a microphone being to mounta microphone around the mouth of a wearer of an open-face helmet,wherein the mounting device is formed with a foamed synthetic resinmaterial having deformation function for the wearer and generatingrepulsive resilience against deforming stress so as to cover from aroundthe mouth to one or both of the left and right sides of a helmet shellconfiguring the outmost layer of the open-face helmet.
 2. The mountingdevice of the microphone according to claim 1, the mounting devicecomprising: a mounting part mounting the microphone around the mouth; asupporting part supported at one or both of the left and right sides ofthe helmet shell; and an arm part connecting the mounting part with thesupporting part, wherein the mounting part, the supporting part and thearm part are integrally formed.
 3. A mounting device of a microphonecomprising: a mounting part mounting a microphone around the mouth of awearer of an open-face helmet; a supporting part supported at one orboth of the left and right sides of a helmet shell configuring theoutmost layer of the open-face helmet; and an arm part arranged betweenthe mounting part and the supporting part, wherein the mounting part,the supporting part and the arm part are formed with a materialgenerating repulsive resilience against deforming stress and are coveredwith a foamed synthetic resin material having deformation function forthe wearer and suppleness to integrate the mounting part, the supportingpart and the arm part.
 4. The mounting device of the microphoneaccording to claim 2, wherein the supporting part is supported at a baseplate, the base plate having long holes longitudinally extending backand forth respect to the helmet shell, supported to be slidable by aguide axis supported about an axis at the helmet shell passing throughthe long holes, and the supporting part further provides an axissupporting part supported about an axis to be rotatable about an axisextending back and forth of the helmet shell.
 5. The mounting device ofthe microphone according to claim 3, wherein the supporting part issupported at a base plate, the base plate having long holeslongitudinally extending back and forth respect to the helmet shell,supported to be slidable by a guide axis supported about an axis at thehelmet shell passing through the long holes, and the supporting partfurther provides an axis supporting part supported about an axis to berotatable about an axis extending back and forth of the helmet shell. 6.An open-face helmet providing the mounting device of the microphoneaccording to claim
 1. 7. An open-face helmet providing the mountingdevice of the microphone according to claim 3.